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Chickens On The Move

written by

Liz Cunningham

posted on

April 2, 2025

They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb...

Well, here is the result of March... Our first lambs are on the ground! These happy, healthy babies are just one of the many signs that spring has arrived at the ranch, and once spring comes, there are many projects to be done! 

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Over the past year, we've made the decision to reduce our sheep herd, but our hearts are still filled with joy when we see the adorable baby lambs being born. It's such a delightful sight to watch them bounce around happily with their fellow lambs just a few hours later!

A key springtime activity is rounding up the calves and assisting our neighbors with branding them. Everyone pitches in, including the little ones. In this photo, my son aided our neighbor by keeping the fire roaring throughout the day, adding one stick of wood at a time!

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This is also when our horseback riding season begins. We need to be cautious as we bring our horses off winter pasture and saddle up again. The horses have become accustomed to not being ridden and are not always very excited the first time we throw a saddle on their back, so it's always best to let Sean hop on the horse and ride them around to ensure they are not interested in bucking!

However, our good old faithful horses that our kids ride pose no problem and are ready for another couple of hundred miles under the saddle this season!

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In addition to the enjoyable spring activities, we welcomed a fresh group of pigs, which will be raised over the summer. These colorful little porkers are happily adjusting to their new environment as they explore and familiarize themselves with the surroundings.

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Our laying chickens transitioned from their winter pasture houses to their new springtime pasture area. My oldest daughter takes immense pride in raising delicious pasture-raised eggs. Throughout the winter, they remain in hoop houses to stay warm. As soon as the grass begins to grow, we load the chickens into their mobile trailer home and relocate them to a fresh patch of pasture, where they revel in the lush green grass and scratch the ground to their hearts' content.

The picture below shows my daughter playing with the chickens just before we packed them up and moved to their new pasture for spring.

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Our laying hens weren't the only residents finding a new home.

Brian, our meat chicken producer, has relocated from our ranch to the Marsing area to raise his chickens. Although we've thoroughly enjoyed having them on the ranch for the past three years, the daily commute from Nampa to the ranch has been quite lengthy for Brian. He located an excellent pasture in Marsing with a spray-free pasture and good well water for his chickens. Now, he can make a short drive to his location, ensuring the chickens thrive.

However, moving eight chicken houses, each measuring 30 ft by 16 ft, is no small task! Fortunately, he found a moving company that assisted him in transporting all the chicken houses to their new location in Marsing.

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Brian currently has chicks in the brooder that are growing daily, and new chickens will arrive in a few weeks. However, we are nearing the end of our chicken inventory from 2024.

Our chickens will be ready to harvest around the first week of June, so if you don't want to be out of chicken, then now is the time to buy!

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2025 Fishing Report

"When you choose wild salmon, you’re not just buying dinner. You’re choosing adventure, resilience, and purity. You’re choosing a source of nourishment that’s powered people for thousands of years."

Warm Salmon, Squash & Apple Salad

Warm Salmon, Red Kuri Squash & Apple Harvest Salad At Cunningham Pastured Meats, we love bringing together trusted partners who share our values of quality, transparency, and care. This Warm Salmon, Red Kuri Squash & Apple Salad does just that—pairing vibrant produce from Cliff’s Country Market with premium wild-caught sockeye salmon from Alsek Fish LLC. The result is a hearty, nourishing salad that tastes like autumn in a bowl. 🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4) For the Salad: 1 medium red kuri squash from Cliff’s Country Market, peeled, seeded, and cubed 2 tablespoons olive oil Salt & pepper, to taste 1 ½ pounds Cunningham Pastured Meats Wild-Caught Sockeye Salmon (sourced from Alsek Fish LLC) 1 tablespoon olive oil (for searing, if not baking) 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), sliced thin — also available at Cliff’s 6 cups arugula or baby spinach (Cliff’s seasonal greens) ½ cup toasted pecans, roughly chopped Optional: ¼ cup goat cheese or feta For the Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette: ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard (optional) 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup Salt & pepper, to taste 🔪 Instructions Roast the Squash Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss squash cubes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a sheet pan and roast 25–30 minutes, flipping once, until tender and caramelized. Cook the Salmon Pan-seared: Heat oil in skillet. Season salmon, cook skin-side down 4–5 minutes, then flip and cook 3–4 more minutes. Baked: Place salmon on parchment-lined pan, season, and bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes until it flakes. Cool slightly, then flake into hearty chunks. Make the Dressing Whisk vinaigrette ingredients until smooth and emulsified. Adjust to taste. Assemble the Salad Toss greens with half the vinaigrette. Arrange squash, apples, salmon, and pecans on top. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Add goat cheese if desired. 🌊 About the Salmon: Know Your Fisherman Our salmon comes from Alsek Fish LLC, a small fishing family that spends summers in Southeast Alaska and calls the Treasure Valley home the rest of the year. They fish the Alsek River, a glacier-fed river that averages just 39°F. Those icy waters mean salmon from this run naturally carry higher levels of healthy fats and Omega-3s—fuel for their long journey home. Alsek Fish LLC catches and processes every fillet themselves, so when you buy from Cunningham Pastured Meats, you truly know your fisherman. 🌱 About the Produce: Local & Fresh from Cliff’s From the earthy sweetness of red kuri squash to the crisp bite of Idaho-grown apples, all of the fresh produce in this salad is available at Cliff’s Country Market. It’s the perfect way to enjoy seasonal flavors while supporting local growers. ✨ Why You’ll Love It Sweet, savory, nutty, and tangy flavors in every bite Features Cliff’s seasonal produce and Alsek wild-caught salmon Balanced enough for lunch, hearty enough for dinner A celebration of real food from trusted families and local farms

Boise's #1 source for 100% Grassfed beef & lamb, pastured pork & chicken and wild-caught seafood